Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-08
MR.. AND MRS. BOWSER.

EUGENE Il lELD IN Cn1cugO NeWo. |
MIR. AND MRS. BOWSER.
When Mr.. Bowser suggested the idea of
buying a horse opposed it, not because
it seemed useless piece of extravagance,
but because / feared that he would be made
the victim of sharpers. I didn't put it in |
that way, of course. simply remarked:
"Why, dear, we are so handy to the street |
cars, you know, and neither of us cares |
much about riding out"
''Yes but horses are bound to- 60 up, and |
I'm offered a fine beast at great sacri- |
fice.''
1--WE got COW at great sacrifice once"
''Oh, we did, Ell? l thought you'd be
flinging that up presently! Whose fault
was it that we had to sell the cow ?"
"Well, but wouldn't buy horse just
now.''
eMaybe you wouldn't. You are not buy |
ing horse, as | understand it. When
don't know enough to run my business I'll |
turn it over to woman"
AS he was evidently nettled with me, l
dropped the subject at once, but knew
from the way he bounced the cuspidor
across the room that he had his mind set on
a horse. And it was scarcely o'cloek next
morning before five or six strange men were
trotting horses up and down the alley to
show off their points. took a seat at a
side window to watch them, but Mr.. Bow
ser soon entered the house and called OUT
s'Mrs. Bewser, if you knew how promi-
nent your red hair was through that win
dow YOU d take some other seat! -
changed to another room, from which
/ could see through the closed blinds, and
presently all the men and horses went away
but one. The man had red nose and a
squint eye, and the horse was raw-boned,
numbering gated animal Of uncertain age
and color. wouldn't have bought such a
horse for the pillow, but Mr.. Bowser seemed
to be hard hit.
"Sure he's Dreadnaught, are you ?'' he
queried as he lifted up the animals big feet
as if he expected to find trade mark on the
hoof.
"Loek here, Bowser, old man," replied
sauint-eye as he combed out the horses
name with his fingers, ''this is to be
square deal. Any man as knows you knows
that you are up on horsefesh. Might Just
as well try to deceive a born jockey as you.
He's a Dreadnaught or l don't want a
cent"
ga little DID," said Mr.. Bowser, as he
looked into the horses mouth.
"Well, how old ?''
'Past eight"
~ won't deny it, Bowser-no, I won't.
What would be the use? That boss is in his
ninth year, but that's in his favor. He's
settled. He knows what what, No pranc-
ing around to scare your wife when he sees
:, bit of paper. All! Bowser but you'v
bought horses before te-day-hundreds Of
'emp'
eject little off, 1 see? ?"
"Just a little dry, and that's the fault Of
the stable-boy. Two or three poultices will
bring 'em out all o. K.''
'lsn'5 exactly my color,n said Mr.. Bow
ser, as he stood off and squinted both eyes.
s'See here, Bowser, don't take me for a
cucumber % replied red nose. "Don't |
know that that is a boss color-dirt and
dust-proof-best in the world to stand the
SUI? And don't you know it, and won't
pay you $25 extra on account of it?
Mr.. Bowser looked pleased, and after
whistling softly to himself for minute he
said:
swell, Peters, what's the lowest?"
"Two hundred, Bowser, and not a cent
less to any human being"
"Make it $3.50"
The squint-eyed man put on an injured
look and turned his gaze into q vacant lot.
'Well, say $175."
''Mr Bowser," he replied, as he slowly
turned about, 'don't know and you know
that Pm sacrificing that boss? Isn't be
werth $3.50 of any mans money just as he
stands? And you want to split hairs with
a man who is square with you? ?"
''Oh well, lead him into the barn and
I'll count out the money"
And that's the way the horse changed
hands. Mr.. Bowser had no sooner tied him
up in the stall than he started of after hay
and oats. He was hardly out of sight when
/ heard an awful thrashing in the barn aud
went out there to find the beast cribb;ng
and kicking. He pulled back and broke his
halter while | was there and as | couldn't
do anything | ran into the house. Not a
word was said until after dinner. Mr.. Bow
ser was just bursting to tell mo of his pur-
chase, but he managed to hold in until We
were clear Of the dining-room, then he said:
'I've bought horse. The doctor has
advised me to ride in the saddle for my
health"
whats the matter with your health p
"Lung tronble."
''Oh didn't know it. Well, are you
going to ride ?''
Just going to saddle mp. Watch US as
we come down the alley"
| watched. The horse came first, and
when the dust settled saw Mr.. Bowser ~
ing on his back on the ground. 1t seemed
the horse objected to saddle exercise. | ran
out to assist Mr.. Bowser, but he got on his
feet and waved me off and explained:
"l-I think somebody scared him. GO III
and mind the baby"
When boy brought the horse back Mr..
Bowser tied him up and broke the pitch fork
over his back, and he looked SO down heart
ed that evening that l spared his feelings
Next day he borrowed buggy and har-
messed the horse to it, and there was run
away and smash-up, and Mr.. Bowser
came home with cut in his scalp and TWO
teeth gone.
We had the brute for about month,
during which time he devoured ton of hay,
twenty bushels of oats and several bushels
of carrots and never gained an ounce of
hesh. lie tore the manger out. kicked
down all the partitions, and keep up such a
row o nights that the police threatened to
make case of it. l was determined not
to say anything, and Mr.. Bewser wouldn't
breach the subject, but one day 1 saw him
sneak into the barn with stranger, and
slipped cut and heard the man say to him
''Bowser, you're fool! That beast is not
only % years old, but LEES cribber, run
away and all that's bad He isn't worth
$1OP'
.'H-he isn't 20
''No, sir! You'll save money by opening
the door and letting him go'
Mr.. BoWser finally sold him 10 peddler
for S15, and that night couldn't help but
remark:
''Shall you buy another horse, Mr.. Bow
ser?"
''Shall 1! That's pretty question to ask
me, when you know that it was your treat
ment Of this animal that made him act SO !
Another horse Not while you are around!'
Detroit Free Press.
''Say, didn't you:tell me when you sold
me that dog that he was bird-dog." eyes,
me. That dog won't hunt 81 didn't
say be would hunt. He's bird-dog.
cocly tho birds for him. That's they way
y. .Aaaaas